اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيهِمْ وَاهْدِنِي لَهُمْ وَأَرْزُقْنِي إِثْمًا مِنْهُمْ وَأَلِفْ بَيْنَنَا ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ.
O Allah, guide me concerning them and guide them concerning me, and grant me their goodness, and unite us if You deem it best, then bless us in it.
Allahumma ihdini fihim wahdini lahum warzuqni ithman minhum wa alif baynanā thumma bārik lanā fīh.
When to Read
This profound supplication is ideally recited when you feel ready to seriously consider marriage, either for yourself or when seeking a partner for a family member. It's particularly relevant when you have a potential spouse in mind, but also beneficial even in the early stages of seeking. Reciting it before consulting with a potential spouse or their family, or even during the engagement period, ensures that divine guidance is sought from the very beginning of this significant life decision.
How to Read
Begin by making sincere intention (niyyah) to seek Allah's best in marriage. Face the Qiblah if possible, and raise your hands in supplication. Recite this dua with a humble heart, reflecting on each word and its meaning. Understand that you are asking the Creator of all hearts to guide your own heart and the heart of the potential spouse towards what is truly good and beneficial. It's a prayer for both guidance and blessing upon the union.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is powerful because it directly asks Allah for guidance in a matter that shapes a significant portion of our lives. It acknowledges that human wisdom is limited and that true success lies in aligning our choices with Allah's will. By asking for guidance 'concerning them' and 'concerning me,' it seeks harmony and mutual understanding. The request for 'their goodness' and to 'unite us' highlights the desire for a righteous and blessed partnership. This prayer fosters a sense of reliance on Allah (tawakkul) and ensures that the foundation of the marriage is built on divine blessing and wisdom, not just personal preference or societal pressure.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught this dua to a companion who was seeking to marry. Al-Tirmidhi narrates a similar dua in a context of seeking guidance when contemplating marriage: 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When one of you intends to marry, let him say: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَخَيْرِ مَا جَبَلْتَهَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جَبَلْتَهَا عَلَيْهِ *Allahumma inni as'aluka min khayriha wa khayri ma jabaltaha 'alayhi, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ma jabaltaha 'alayhi.* (O Allah, I ask You for its [the woman's] goodness and the goodness of what You have destined for her, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what You have destined for her.)' Sunan Ibn Majah 1868, graded Sahih by Al-Albani. The dua provided in this entry is more general, suitable for asking guidance when contemplating marriage or when a specific person is in mind, and is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud.